Golf

This week on Only A Game, a small golf course in Aceh, Indonesia reopens five years after the 2004 tsunami. Also, Mark McGwire gets all teary-eyed remembering that really great summer of ’98, and Charlie Pierce dissects the week’s sports news.

Before 2009 becomes a thing of the past, Only A Game presents some of our favorite stories from the last year or so. There’s something for everyone: Santas in Speedos; dancing doctoral candidates; soccer at the Vatican; Dungeons and Dragons; golfing in Vietnam; and a collegiate logging competition. Enjoy! And Happy Holidays from all of us at Only A Game!

Tiger, Tiger, burning…ahhh, never mind. This week on Only A Game, sponsors bail on Mr. Woods while PGA tour members fret about golf’s future. Also, remembering the first African-American All-American, and putting the spin on some serious dreidel competition.

As President Obama works to achieve consensus on such difficult issues as universal health care and the attempt to encourage the economy while presiding over two wars, he needs all the friends he can get. But, as Bill points out, Mr. Obama may feel he’s been saddled with one he could do without.

He’s the best golfer in the world. He’s the richest athlete of all time. He’s a global superstar. But all of Tiger Woods’ honors, sponsorship deals, and athletic awards mean nothing in his personal life.

The Detroit Shock, three times the WNBA Champs, have lost a lot this summer. This week on “Only A Game,” their current story. We’ll also ask “Whither golf in these hard times? Will it whither?” Whether or not it does, we’ll witness bad bowling at the Big Lebowski Fest.

This week on Only A Game, author John Feinstein joins me to remember Tiger Woods’ and Rocco Mediate’s thrilling playoff in last year’s U.S. Open, and Only A Game’s microphones capture the raucous and rather un-golflike gallery sounds at the 16th hole of TPC Scottsdale.

Author John Feinstein delves deep into the background of golfers Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods in his book “Are You Kidding Me? The Story of Rocco Mediate’s Extraordinary Battle with Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open.” As the title suggests, the book is laden with specific details, but also weaves in interesting anecdotes about Mediate and Woods.

This week on Only A Game, a profile of NBA journeyman Jamario Moon. Also, the basketball clinic for aspiring female coaches, an NHL post-season preview, and a Wall Street worker moonlights in a slightly less risky enterprise: Indoor Lacrosse!